Have you ever stopped to think about what rats do for run?
Sure they crawl around and scurry
Yeah they're always on the run but a rat sure likes a good time
Just like you and me
I'll prove it with a tale about a rat-infested brewery

It started with a little lad named vermin McCann
Who fell upon a drink that made him feel like quite a man
He rounded up his furry boys
Though some wore a frown
They quickly changed their tune and they slammed a couple down

One, two, one-two-three-four
Come on all you good rats
We'll send you to heaven you'll find the pearly gates in the froth and the foam
'Cause in these vats you've made quite a creation
A potion that turned the Guinness to gold

Like mice behind a piper
Rats from all around soon headed for this factory in old Dublin Town
They surely heard the news about this fancy new rat-brew they come
They saw, they had a taste and knocked back a few

One, two, one-two-three-four
Come on all you good rats
We'll send you to heaven you'll find the pearly gates in the froth and the foam
'Cause in these vats you've made quite a creation
A potion that turned the Guinness to gold

The rats were in a tizzy
Addicted to the bone the hairy lugs were giddy
They were never going home
Like a bunch of drunken pirates prepared to walk the plank they drank
They sang, they took a plunge and in the beer they sank

One, two, one-two-three-four
Come on all you good rats
We'll send you to heaven you'll find the pearly gates in the froth and the foam
'Cause in these vats you've made quite a creation
A potion that turned the Guinness to gold

One, two, one-two-three-four
Come on all you good rats
We'll send you to heaven you'll find the pearly gates in the froth and the foam
'Cause in these vats you've made quite a creation
A potion that turned the Guinness to gold


Lyrics submitted by oofus

Good Rats Lyrics as written by Kenneth William Casey Alexander Martin Barr

Lyrics © SPIRIT TWO SMA

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Good Rats song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    hahahaha!!! Rat feces in guinness!
    myownprison333on July 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    it's not rat feces smart one, the rats fell into the vat.. they found rat bones in the guinness vats in the 80's when they were forced to clean them
    skapunk22on July 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Haha. This song is cool.
    -=TiedToTheTracks=-on July 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    only the dropkick murphys can write a song about rats drowning in beer and have everyone like it… including me.
    Afinaon October 06, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    yea this si a awsome some don't we jsut love the Dropkick Murphys ??i woudl hope so
    TheWonderfulEmoGirlon October 09, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song is so catchy and funny, it's one of my favorites on Sing Loud, Sing Proud. These guys are totally great...Who else could write a song about drunken rats? Totally awesome.
    Madcappunkon October 15, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    being Irish, this is the best topic for any Guinness lover!! awesome song!!!!
    punkrawk3on June 08, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    my favorite thing about this song is that shane macgowan does some of the vocals.
    goodbaron June 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song like all Dropkick tunes makes wanna get shitfaced.
    Torch In The Darkon June 28, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Yeah, apparently after they cleaned the dead rats out the Guinness just wasn't the same, so I'm guessing that's why it's "Turned the Guinness to gold" Good song this :D
    XaNthUs101on October 10, 2004   Link

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